Takes Two for Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23b-24 On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me."

Sitting at home, joining Sunday worship on my computer and trying to open the little self-help communion wafer and wine combo package. I can’t get the cellophane off the wafer and spill the wine on my shirt. Try another. I haven’t even heard pastor read the intro to taking communion. It’s over when I finally get the wafer. Terrible mood for communion.

It reminded me of a true story of another difficult communion, but with a wonderful ending—one which illustrates again the great lessons our children are teaching us.

On the way to a Christmas Eve service, five-year-old Harriet became sick and “lost her lunch.” While mom cleaned Harriet, dad and seven-year-old son, William, ran in the church to sit in the front with grandparents. Later, mom and a still unsteady and pale Harriet sat on the back pew in the darkness, in case she was sick again.

Then came the time for Holy Communion. Mom came down to the altar to receive the sacrament, but left Harriet behind because she was still weak and pale. Then something beautiful happened. William got up and returned to the communion rail.

“What’s he doing, going up for a second time?” wondered his dad. They watched him take the sacrament, race to the back of the church, and scoot next to his sister.  He opened his hands, revealing a small piece of bread. “Harriet,” he said, “this is the body of Christ, given for you.”

Without hesitation, little Harriet took the bread out of his hands and plopped it into her mouth and said, “Amen.” And in that moment, Holy Communion had never been more holy.

There’s a name for that. It’s called love! The spirit of childlikeness is so important. What a beautiful thing it is when our children rise to the occasion and teach us once again the power of love, the wonder of love, the miracle of love.   

There are many, many stories of children showing what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ. And there are so many more times than just Communion when Christ asks us to remember him.

Casting Crowns - If We Are The Body

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